Clot drug 'helps stroke recovery'

Press Association – Thu, May 24, 2012

View PhotoNew research shows that the rt-PA drug can increase the number of stroke survivors who are able to look after themselves

Stroke victims given a clot-busting drug after an attack recover better than those who do not receive the treatment, according to the world's biggest trial of the medicine.

More than 3,000 patients worldwide took part in the trial of rt-PA, given intravenously to patients who have had acute ischaemic stroke which occurs when an artery that carries blood to the brain is blocked.

The damage can be permanent or fatal, with problems including paralysis down one side of the body and speech problems.

The international trial, led by the University of Edinburgh, found that following treatment with the drug, more stroke survivors were able to look after themselves. A patient's chances of completely recovering within six months of a stroke were also increased.

For every 1,000 patients given rt-PA within three hours of stroke, 80 more will survive and live without help from others than if they had not been given the drug, according to the research. But patients are also at risk of death within seven days of treatment because the drug can cause a secondary bleed in the brain.

Without treatment with rt-PA, one-third of people who have a stroke die and another third are left permanently dependent and disabled. For those who do not experience bleeding, the drug improves patients' longer-term recovery.

Researchers said the trial shows the benefits of treating patients with the drug as soon as possible. The findings of the study are published in The Lancet medical journal, alongside an analysis of all other trials of the drug from the past 20 years.

Professor Joanna Wardlaw, from the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences and who led the review of all trial data, said: "We have looked at data from more than 7,000 stroke patients worldwide.

"What we see is that the drug increases patients' longer-term recovery. But we need to find out why some people bleed and how to reduce this to increase the effectiveness of clot-busting treatment."

The trial was supported by the University of Edinburgh, the Stroke Association UK, the Medical Research Council, EME, the Health Foundation UK and NHS Lothian Health Board.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/clot-drug-helps-stroke-recovery-230750995.html